Mapping the Application of Welding Technologies in Remanufacturing of Molds and Dies

This review article is motivated by the possibility of applying plasma transferred arc welding (PTAW) for repairing molds and dies. To amplify this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science platform. More articles were needed to extend the understanding in more detail about the manufacturing of repairs. Around 64% of the manuscripts analyzed used laser sources, while around 34% were based on electric arc processes. The most common material seen as a substrate, and even as a metal addition, is the AISI H13 steel. Surprisingly, few studies have focused on real components, and there is little information about the performance of repaired tools. Moreover, there are gaps in the resulting microstructures and their manipulation according to the process variables. The employment of PTAW for repairing molds and dies is scarce, making it very difficult to compare the final performance among all available processes, although we could describe the relevant potential of this technique for large mold surfaces or interior repair.